How to build a private practice: questions, answered
Who is Well Launched for?
Well Launched is for licensed mental health professionals in the U.S. and Canada, including LPCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, psychologists, registered psychotherapists, counselling therapists, clinical counsellors, and social workers, who want to start or grow a solo private practice. It works whether you are launching full time or building a practice on the side while you keep your current job.
What is in the free checklist, and what do you do with my information?
The free playbook is a step-by-step launch checklist covering setup, paperwork, insurance, and money, with AI handling the busywork. We ask for your license type and state so we can send resources that fit your situation. We never ask for client information, and you can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell or distribute your information, we hate spam emails too!
How do you protect the information I enter?
Only you can see what you enter. Your answers, drafts, and files are locked to your account, and we only look at them when you ask us for help. Everything is encrypted on the way to us and where it's stored. Documents you save to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or your computer go straight there, not through us. When a tool writes a draft, the details it needs go to Anthropic (Claude), which doesn't use them to train its models and deletes them within 30 days. Payments run through Stripe, so we never see your card. Please don't enter client information: that belongs in your EHR. Our Privacy Policy has the details.
Do I need to be good with technology?
No. Every step is written for beginners, with plain instructions and examples. We focus on using AI to handle the busywork, so your clinical judgment stays at the center of your practice.
Which states and provinces is this for?
Any U.S. state, and every Canadian province and territory. For Canada, Well Launched covers your province's registration rules, setting up your business, GST/HST, privacy law, and clients' health benefits, with official links for each (Quebec is in English for now). Always follow your own state board's or provincial college's rules. Well Launched is a business education resource, not a legal or clinical advisory service.
Is this for group practices?
At this time Well Launched is built for solo practitioners who want a practice that runs smoothly without extra overhead. If you plan to grow into a group practice later, the foundations still apply. Please reach out with the contact form to let us know if you would like to see new or additional applications in the future.
Is this therapy or clinical supervision?
No, it is business education. We provide a clear playbook to get your practice off the ground, focusing on operations and marketing, not clinical treatment.
How much does Well Launched cost?
Plans are one-time payments: Blueprint $149 and Launch $299, each with Grow (2 months free, starting the day your website goes live) as an option. Refresh ($249) is for practices already open: we review what you have, rebuild the rest, and tune up your fees and paperwork. After the free months, Grow continues at $29 a month unless you cancel, and you can cancel anytime from Manage plan. Until November 20, the first 50 founding members get Blueprint for $49, Launch for $149, and Refresh for $149.
What's the difference between Blueprint and Launch?
Blueprint gives you the exact steps, links to every form, and AI prompts so you can do it yourself, plus every website page ready to paste into your own website builder. Launch builds it with you: a custom-designed website built and hosted by Well Launched, custom branding, your Google and directory profiles, and your paperwork. You can upgrade from Blueprint to Launch anytime and pay only the difference.
Do you fill out my business and licensing applications for me?
No. You fill in and submit government and insurance applications yourself, on the official sites, such as your PLLC filing, EIN, and NPI. Every plan links you straight to each one and keeps your details in one place, ready to copy.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. Well Launched is business education. It points you to your board's rules and official sources, and suggests when to check with an attorney or CPA.
What if it isn't right for me?
You get a full refund within 7 days, no questions asked.
How much does it cost to start a private practice?
It depends on the choices you make. The main costs are forming your business entity, malpractice insurance, an EHR, a website, directory listings, and office space if you are not starting virtually. You can launch lean and add costs as clients come in, and the playbook helps you see which expenses matter now and which can wait.
How long does it take to start a private practice?
When you're starting a therapy private practice, the core setup, including your business entity, NPI, malpractice insurance, EHR, forms, and a basic online presence, can often be done in a few weeks to a couple of months. Insurance credentialing usually takes longer, often several months, which is one reason many therapists start with private pay or begin credentialing early.
Should I take insurance or go private pay?
Both can work, and the right choice depends on your finances, your niche, and your local market. Well Launched helps you weigh the tradeoffs so you can choose with confidence instead of defaulting to what everyone else is doing.
Do I need a PLLC to start a private practice?
It depends on your state and license. Read more in our blog post, Do therapists need a PLLC or LLC?
Which AI tools do I need?
The free checklist and the Blueprint plan can be used with any AI, like Claude or ChatGPT. For the Launch and Refresh plans, the AI is built into the program, so there's no need for outside tools. You don't need any technical background to use any of the plans.
Is it ethical to use AI in a therapy practice?
Yes, with clear boundaries. AI is a great fit for marketing, writing, and admin, and you never enter client information there. AI note-taking is only appropriate inside HIPAA-compliant tools that sign a BAA, with your client's informed consent and your review of every note. Always follow your licensing board's rules.
What is AI search, and why does it matter for my practice?
More people now ask tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google's AI results to recommend a therapist. These tools pull from your website, Google Business Profile, and directory listings. Well Launched helps you describe who you help, what you do, and where you practice clearly enough that both people and AI tools can understand it.
Will it build my website?
Yes, with Launch and Refresh. Well Launched writes every page, builds your site in the look you choose, and hosts it. It's yours: download it and move it anytime, or take it down anytime. Change anything for 2 months after it goes live. After that, your practice details (phone, fees, insurance, hours, and more) are always free to update, and bigger changes come with Grow. Only your domain is separate (about $15–$25 a year). With Blueprint, you get every page ready to paste into your own website builder.
Does Well Launched use AI with client information?
No. Well Launched never asks for client information. AI helps with business writing, like your website, policies, and profiles, and you review everything before it's used.
No questions match. Ask us.